Apparatuses and systems including ultra-thin adjustable lenses

Abstract

A method may include bonding a deformable bounding element to a structural support element in which the deformable bounding element and a cavity-adjacent side of the structural support element define a cavity. The method may further include filling the cavity with a deformable medium by injecting the deformable medium past a cavity-opposite side of the structural support element and toward the cavity-adjacent side of the structural support element. The method may additionally include sealing an entry point of the injection of the deformable medium into the cavity. Various other apparatuses, systems, and methods are also disclosed.

1 . An apparatus comprising:
 an optical lens assembly having a thickness less than three millimeters, wherein the optical lens assembly comprises:
 a deformable bounding element bonded to a structural support element; and 
 a deformable medium disposed between the deformable bounding element and the structural support element. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a force distributor adhered to the deformable bounding element, wherein the force distributor distributes a force applied by an actuator to a perimeter edge of the deformable bounding element thereby altering the shape of the optical lens assembly and the optical power of the optical lens assembly.   
     
     
         3 . A system comprising:
 a head-mounted device comprising a pair of optical lens assemblies, wherein each of the optical lens assemblies has a thickness of less than three millimeters and comprises:
 a deformable bounding element bonded to a structural support element; and 
 a deformable medium disposed between the deformable bounding element and the structural support element. 
   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the head mounted device further comprises a bezel;   the optical lens assemblies are mounted in the bezel; and   the deformable medium is injected through an entry point within a bezel-mounting area, thereby reducing obstruction of the optical lens assemblies.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the ratio of a clear aperture area of the optical lens assemblies to an overall surface area of the optical lens assemblies is greater than 75 percent. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein each of the optical lens assemblies has a thickness of less than two millimeters. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein each of the optical lens assemblies further comprises a force distributor coupled to a perimeter region of the deformable bounding element, the force distributor being configured to distribute a force from an external actuation mechanism to the deformable bounding element. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the force distributor covers at least one hole in the deformable bounding element. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the pair of optical lens assemblies comprises a right proximal optical lens assembly and a left proximal optical lens assembly; and   the head-mounted device further comprises:
 a right waveguide positioned adjacent to the right proximal optical lens assembly in a position to be viewed by a user through the right proximal optical lens assembly; and 
 a left waveguide positioned adjacent to the left proximal optical lens assembly in a position to be viewed by the user through the left proximal optical lens assembly. 
   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , the head-mounted device further comprises:
 a right distal optical lens assembly positioned an opposite side of the right waveguide relative to the right proximal optical lens assembly; and   a left distal optical lens assembly positioned an opposite side of the right left relative to the left proximal optical lens assembly.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein each of the right distal optical lens assembly and the left distal optical lens assembly has a thickness of less than three millimeters. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the head-mounted device has an eyeglass form factor. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the structural support element comprises a substantially flat element that contributes substantially no optical power to the optical lens assembly. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the structural support element comprises an ophthalmic substrate that contributes an optical power to the optical lens assembly. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the thickness of the optical lens assembly is measured as a distance from a center of an outer surface of the deformable bounding element to a side surface of the structural support element adjacent to the deformable medium when the optical lens assembly is in an undeformed state. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the deformable bounding element is configured to transmit about 70% or more of incident light. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the optical lens assembly comprises an entry point seal blocking a hole in the structural support element used for introducing the deformable medium between the deformable bounding element and the structural support element. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein 1 the optical lens assembly comprises an entry point seal blocking an entry point between an edge face of the structural support element and the deformable bounding element, wherein the entry point is used for introducing the deformable medium between the deformable bounding element and the structural support element. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the deformable bounding element comprises:
 a first portion of the deformable bounding element bonded to the structural support element; and   a second portion of the deformable bounding element coupled to a perimeter region of the first portion of the deformable element, forming an edge seal between the first portion and second portion of the deformable bounding element.   
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the first portion and second portion of the deformable bounding element are coupled to each other with a crimped force distribution ring.